Wijebandarage Iliangasinghe and Ranbandage Sisira IIlangasinghe v. Hon. Attorney General – CA NO 46/2011-2011

In the case between Wijebandarage Iliangasinghe (deceased), Ranbandage Sisira Illangasinghe, and the Hon. Attorney General, the court addressed the legal question of whether a conviction for murder, grounded primarily on depositions admitted under Section 33 of the Evidence Ordinance, was sustainable when the principal witnesses were deceased at the time of trial. It was held that the conviction of the 2nd Accused-Appellant for murder could stand, as the procedural and evidentiary requirements for admitting such depositions had been met, and corroborative medical evidence was present. The decision reinforced the principle that depositions of deceased witnesses may be lawfully relied upon under Section 33 of the Evidence Ordinance when uncontested and bolstered by supporting medical testimo